The East Wing of the White House has been completely destroyed as part of President Donald Trump’s planned $300m (£225m) ballroom construction, it was confirmed on Friday. The demolition came days after work began on the new project, despite Trump’s earlier promise that no existing infrastructure would be torn down.
The East Wing was originally built as the East Terrace during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency in 1902, and was reshaped into its current form by Franklin Roosevelt in 1942 to provide wartime office space and conceal an underground bunker. Over time, it became the base for the first lady and her staff, and housed the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. It served as the social entrance for tourists and guests attending events.
Under the original ballroom plan, the East Wing would have remained untouched and acted as a mingling space for guests. However, the White House later confirmed the entire wing would be demolished, and images of rubble have sparked criticism from historians and preservation groups. The 90,000-square-foot ballroom will be nearly double the size of the main White House and is designed to accommodate 999 people.
The project is being privately funded by donors including Apple, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Google, Lockheed Martin, Palantir, T-Mobile and Comcast, with Trump claiming it will not cost taxpayers. Construction began without signoff from the National Capital Planning Commission, the agency responsible for approving major renovations to federal buildings.
Critics have condemned the demolition. David Frum, a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, described it as symbolic of Trump treating public assets as private property. The National Trust for Historic Preservation requested a pause, while presidential historian Douglas Brinkley likened the destruction to “slashing a Rembrandt painting”. Trump adviser Stephen Miller defended the move, calling the East Wing a “cheaply built add-on structure”.
